Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Johnson would like to nominate Mrs. Lori Moorehead as Castle Hills January Teacher of the Month. Mrs. Moorehead has been a teacher at Castle Hills since the doors opened in 2002. She is an all-around top notch teacher who consistently puts her students first. Each student knows Mrs. Moorehead cares about them and what she expects. She holds high expectations for her students to aspire to. She expects students to work hard to meet her high hopes both academically and socially. Her students do just that. Mrs. Moorehead teaches her students to do an excellent job self-monitoring their behavior and managing their own learning. This allows her special one-on-one time assessing and supporting student needs. This is also a direct result of the procedures and routines that she establishes for them at the beginning of the year. Students know where and how to access learning centers and resources and can do so independently. Thanks Mrs. Moorehead!
Who is your hero and why?
My hero is Jesus Christ because through Him I have peace with God and eternal life! I do have people that I admire such as my parents, especially my mother, and my husband of thirty years. My mother and husband are both Christians and have both led unselfish lives of service to others, which is endearing to me.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
My husband and I moved to Texas thirty years ago from Arkansas and we are very happy here.
What is your favorite family vacation?
My favorite family vacation was to Breckinridge, Colorado in the summer with my husband and two sons. Both of our sons were in college and it was our last family vacation before our oldest son graduated. It was a memorable time for all of us to do the things that we love and to reconnect as a family unit!
What would you change about yourself if you could?
As a child, I wanted to be just like my mother. As an adult, I am slowing changing into her, not sure if that is a good or bad thing for me. If I were half the confident, strong woman that she is, I would change that about myself. I periodically change my hairstyle; however, I am who God made me to be.
What really makes you sad?
What really makes me sad is when someone is knowingly dishonest with me as well as all of the hate that is going on in the world.
What motivates you?
I am so motivated and enjoy working with a team of teachers that work well together and don’t mind sharing resources, collaborating, and that value one another. Hard-working, dedicated learners motivate me as well!
What is your favorite thing about your career?
My favorite thing about my career is making a difference in the lives of the children that I have the pleasure to teach. I love my little dragons!
What is your proudest accomplishment?
We are all works in progress; however, my husband and I are the proud parents of two adult sons. It has been such a pleasure to watch them set and meet personal goals, mature, and become such productive citizens in our society.
What is your favorite book?
While preparing to go on a family trip, my eldest son suggested and purchased my first eBook, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, on my Kindle.
What makes you laugh the most?
Our “smiling†Yorkie of 11 years, OTIS, he definitely keeps things interesting!
The Cooper Agency, a Farmers Insurance Agency, is awarding the Teacher of the Month with a $100 stipend to use for classroom supplies and favorite things!
Press Release from Texas School Counselor Association
In 2005, Texas School Counselor Association began a program called CREST to recognize schools with outstanding counseling programs. This year, 70 schools will be recognized for excellence in school counseling. CREST stands for C ounselors R einforcing E xcellence for S tudents in T exas. Schools receiving CREST awards have demonstrated a commitment using the school guidance and counseling program to improve the lives and achievement of students in academic, career, and personal social domains. The Texas School Counseling Association is proud to announce Castle Hills Elementary Counselor, Carol Rains is one of the CREST winners for the 2017-2018 school year
CREST is a continuous improvement document that gives a school counseling program an opportunity to demonstrate effective communication and a commitment to obtaining results. CREST helps counselors to evaluate their counseling programs, promote their programs to the stakeholders in their districts, demonstrate the effectiveness of their guidance and counseling programs through empirical means, and to implement the Texas and National models for school counseling programs.
CREST looks at the counseling program in seven areas: Principal’s Support, School Counseling Advisory Council, School Climate and Safety, Student Results, Major Achievements, Community Partnerships and Resources, and Parent Collaboration. The guidance support team prepares a document that highlights these areas and communicates just what the counseling program is doing to help students succeed. These documents are sent to reviewers throughout the state of Texas to be judged according to pre-set standards of excellence.
Congratulations to Carol Rains at Castle Hills Elementary for being one of a group of only 70 schools from across the state to win the CREST Award for Counseling Excellence for 2017.
